02 - Public / Video

[domesheriff]

[Linda comes onto the network today actually dressed casually rather than in her patrol uniform; she's wearing a red T-shirt under a gray sweater jacket over jeans and boots. her hair is pulled back in a braid, and the ever-present engagement ring is on her hand. today of all days, she wants to be wearing it. because despite the dome and her relocation, she's still counted the days, and she knows that if none of that had happened, this would be it--this would be her wedding day. and having realized that, it's a thought she can't get out of her head]

Hey, is anybody free today? [her tone is casual, but there's something a little anxious in the way she's standing. she has her hands in front of her and is unthinkingly playing with the ring as well] I'm off, and I don't want to spend the day sitting around alone. I'll take you to lunch--my treat. Or...I don't know, a walk in the gardens, or even some games in the arcade? Maybe a drink at Pugsy's tonight. Sound good to anybody?

[she smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. still, despite the feelings she's fighting, she's determined not to spend today moping. she's going to distract herself with new friends and fun instead]

Comments

[most_feared]

I can't promise I'd be real good company, but I go to the diner about every day if you'd like to join me today.

[domesheriff]

[her boss is not someone she was expecting to respond to this request, but she appreciates it all the same]

Sure, if you don't mind. When are you thinking?

[most_feared]

Usually at lunch or in the evening after work, whenever is most convenient. What time'd be better for you?

[domesheriff]

[not wanting to make her boss rush off for lunch in the middle of a shift on her account, she suggests:] What about dinner? When's your shift done?

[most_feared]

Sure. Things have been pretty slow so I'll probably be able to clock out early. [Other than Belloq, really, things have been.]

[domesheriff]

Okay. [she nods] Give me a call when you're off, then. I'll meet you there.

Later!

[most_feared]

[Kay's order is invariably predictable, but here he is at the diner. Staring at his menu. Hemming and hawing like he cannot figure out for the life of him what it is that he wants. He did already get his coffee, though, black with two sugars, and he's sipping at that as he ponders the food items.]

Sounds like you got a lot on your mind.

[He says to Linda, not looking away from the menu, but she's one of those women that sort of wears an unhappy look like a flag when she's feeling it.]

[domesheriff]

[Linda's sipping her own coffee, peering at her menu more out of nerves than a need to continue looking at it. she's still not so sure about this "dinner with the new boss" thing. but she glances at him at the question. he's reminding her of Duke a little, inviting her out like this. being friendly--fatherly. she wasn't sure if that was really what his manner meant at first, or if it was just wishful thinking on her part, but he does just seem to want to help]

[and assuming that's true, she knows that being closed up will make this an awkward conversation very quickly, so she admits:] Just...thinking about back home today.

[most_feared]

Missin' people? Or just feeling a little out of sorts. [And as he waits for an answer (he is actually listening, but he's good at multitasking) he finally orders a reuben sandwich and apple pie with cheddar on it. The apples are the native sort, and the meat on the reuben tastes a little funny because it's also local, but he doesn't mind. They're both pretty good.]

[He folds his hands in front of him, fingers ladder-laced, and turns his head a little more in her direction to listen.]

[domesheriff]

Honestly? Both.

[she pauses to put in her own order of a club sandwich, and since he's getting dessert she adds a slice of pie to that, too--no cheddar for her, though]

[but noticing the way he's looking at her, she's sure he's expecting more of an explanation than she's given. she hesitates, turning toward the counter like she's watching for their orders to appear so she doesn't have to face him while she speaks. but then, a bit tentatively, she ventures:] I know it's not the same time of year here or anything, but...just knowing how long I've been here, today would have been an event back home.

[most_feared]

What would have happened?

[His questions are short, but he does care. One can tell because his tone isn't forceful. It's not authoritative like it is at work, and while he can't be soft it is comparably gentle. He doesn't want his patrol to be stressed. He wants to do what he can for them, especially since they, like he is, are currently displaced and need the support.]

[He's lucky, not permanently so for him. But he knows returning might not be so easy for other people.]

[domesheriff]

[there's another moment's hesitation. her voice is quiet when she says:] My wedding. [she looks down at her hand, rubbing her fingers to feel the surface of the engagement ring]

[a little worried about being so emotionally vulnerable in front of her new boss, though, she quickly adds:] But I know things are different now and I've got a job to do here.

[most_feared]

[He grunt/hums a soft acknowledgement to that, thinking of the engagement long ago that he never followed through with. But, also thinking of later. When they married, and then one day she realized he was no longer the man she was missing.]

[He's still not open enough to share the story directly, but he is reminded, though. And that makes his sound sympathetic, even the hard features of his grizzled face lightening up about as much as they can.] Yeah. Who knows. Today might have been a wedding for a different woman. Think you've changed much since you said yes?

[domesheriff]

[she frowns at those words. she's never thought about this from that angle, and she's not sure she cares to. she quickly shakes her head] No.

[but after a pause, she adds:] I mean...I've changed. But...if I had the chance... [she sighs] But that's all speculation anyway.

[he didn't say good-bye. what if she does find a way back to him and he still blames her for Freddy? what if he blames her for all of Chester's Mill now?]

[Linda suddenly finds her coffee cup very interesting, and she takes another sip, trying to banish those thoughts by focusing on the hot liquid instead]

[most_feared]

Just one of those days where it really hits ya that life didn't play out like the way you wanted, right?

I guess people can say nobody gets what they want. But sometimes on days you gotta mourn what didn't get. It is mourning, really. Somethin' that you wanted, that made you happy, even if it was just an idea, and somethin' killed it for you.

You're allowed that. [He can at least give her permission to feel the way she is today. It seems like she is pretty nervous about it.] Everyone always has an anniversary that hurts. Especially when its the loss of something that they tried on and helped push 'em through.

[domesheriff]

[she looks over at him, not sure what to say but appreciating that...permission for her grief maybe more than he knows. for a moment, she's quiet, and then she ventures:] Yeah. I think...that's exactly how I feel. [she pauses for a beat] I mean, we didn't even say good-bye, the last time I saw him. I just...want to remember him today, I guess. But also remember that I'm building a new life here. That...everything didn't end in Chester's Mill.

[it's what she's been trying to do all day--spending her time with anyone here who was willing, enjoying food and gardens and conversations. she might not have the relationships here that she did back there, but over time she knows she'll make good friends--she's making them already]

[but it's still true that she would go back to him in a heartbeat, if it does turn out to be possible. she doesn't say that, though. trying to shift the topic, she asks:] Have you been here long, sir?

[most_feared]

Not long. I went home for a little while when they were still recovering from the first skeleton attack.

[He takes a sip of his coffee, and after he pulls the cup away he thinks about what to say.]

It didn't end. You'll either meet him again or you'll move on, but it doesn't change the fact you felt good together for a long time. It doesn't change the fact you did a place a lot of good as a cop.

[domesheriff]

[she's a little surprised by his answer and wonders what background he must have to be security chief if he hasn't been coming here long] What job did you have back there? Police, or...FBI? Or something like that?

[his next words catch her by surprise, and she blinks at him. of course, her mind immediately reminds her that most of the residents of Chester's Mill are about to die and won't remember any good she did do, but she knows that there are still those out there who weren't in town when the dome came down. in particular, there's still Rusty. and either way, Kay still has a point] So...what, remember the good memories I left with people there? And...that it really hasn't ended. Because I didn't die back there. [she doesn't realize the implication of her words as she says them--that most people here don't know that she only fled to save her life--but Kay's meaning has sunk in now, and in a way, it makes her feel a little better] I know there's good I can do here.

[whatever else she might have said is lost, however, as it's at this moment that their meals are served]

[most_feared]

[He forgets, occasionally, that he can actually say what it was that he did. So he tends to his food.]

Sort of an interstellar immigration thing.

[But he does wonder what was going to happen. With what she left behind.] Do you think you'll get what you need here to help things back home?

[domesheriff]

Oh. [she doesn't know what to say. she's not quite sure she understands what he means by that, but it sounds to her like he must be from the future and took care of...regulating space immigration, maybe. she doesn't want to sound silly asking, though]

[her expression darkens at his question, and she takes another sip of coffee before shaking her head] No. Chester's Mill... [she hesitates, glancing at him. he's being so understanding, reminding her of Duke. and maybe all this talk of her home is making him think she's going to leave, and she doesn't want that either. what convinces her to share, though, is that if today is a day for thinking about home, then she thinks it should be a day to talk about it, too] I left because a missile was about to hit our town. I...can't do anything to stop that.

[most_feared]

Oh. [His brows shoot up. Yeah, that's a pretty serious problem.]

I think I might know some ways to help with that. It might take a while to work out the mechanics, I can't promise it right off- maybe six or seven months from now. But if you are allowed to hop back to when you left.

Maybe you could help 'em out. If you're willin' to give it a shot.

[He sounds pretty doubtless about his ability to help.]

[domesheriff]

You... [she gapes at him] What, really? But...how!? [she shakes her head, wondering if he thinks he can help because she didn't fully explain] This isn't just any missile. It's the biggest non-nuclear device the U.S. military has!

[most_feared]

I've dealt with bigger. [Again, there is no doubt in his tone.]

But why are they sendin' a warhead of that capacity your way?

[domesheriff]

[she hesitates again, but she knows she's in too deep to back out now. and if he really can do something? then she needs that help--Chester's Mill is relying on her]

Look, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I swear it's true. [and she takes a deep, breath, steeling herself to give an explanation that no one here has yet heard] About five days before I came here, a dome appeared around Chester's Mill. Literally. It covers about 10 feet in all directions. There's no way over or under--not even sound can get through it. And I guess the government decided that if they can't get us out, then they're gonna do whatever they have to do to destroy it--even if that means killing everyone in town. [she sighs. carrying the knowledge of what she left behind has been a heavy burden--heavier than even she realized--and it's settling on her now]

But, sir... [despite his confidence, her skepticism is still clear] Do you really have something that could help us? The missile would have to break through the dome before we could even touch it.

[and bring the dome crashing down on their heads, but she doesn't feel the need to point that out. everyone except maybe Junior should be under cover in the old cement factory anyway. she should be the only one out in the open, and if Kay has a solution that really could save everyone else, then that's a sacrifice she would gladly make--especially since it's a problem she might find a solution to herself in the meanwhile anyway]

[most_feared]

[One of the most blatantly irritating things about Kay is that he, apparently, is not at all dissuaded by this.] We'd probably have to get rid of the dome but that's probably doable. We've run into stuff like that before back home. [As if it's nothing.]

You should try their pie. It's pretty good. [He points at it with his fork. Because here is the appropriate place in which one comments on how spectacular their pie is.]